Acts 10:10

And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

And {G1161} he became {G1096} very hungry {G4361}, and {G2532} would {G2309} have eaten {G1089}: but {G1161} while they {G1565} made ready {G3903}, he {G846} fell {G1968} into {G1909} a trance {G1611},

He began to feel hungry and wanted something to eat; but while they were preparing the meal, he fell into a trance

He became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance.

and he became hungry, and desired to eat: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance;

Commentary

Context

Acts 10:10 sets the immediate scene for one of the most pivotal moments in early Christian history: Peter's encounter with Cornelius and the subsequent opening of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Peter was staying in Joppa, at the house of Simon the tanner, a detail that already hints at Peter's willingness to cross traditional Jewish boundaries, as tanners dealt with animal hides and were often considered ceremonially unclean. His hunger is a very human, relatable detail that serves as the natural backdrop for the supernatural event about to unfold. This moment of physical need becomes the precise point of divine intervention.

Key Themes

  • Divine Preparation for Revelation: God often uses ordinary human needs and circumstances to prepare individuals for extraordinary divine encounters. Peter's hunger wasn't just a physical need; it was the precise moment God chose for a profound revelation that would redefine the scope of the early church.
  • The Supernatural Interrupts the Natural: The sudden onset of a "trance" highlights how God can interrupt the mundane to communicate His will directly. This state allowed Peter to receive a vision that would challenge his deeply ingrained Jewish beliefs about clean and unclean foods and, more importantly, the clean and unclean status of people.
  • Foreshadowing Gentile Inclusion: This verse is the immediate prelude to the vision of the sheet descending from heaven, filled with all kinds of animals, which directly leads to Peter understanding that God has "cleansed" what was once considered unclean. This vision is central to the acceptance of Gentiles into the Christian faith without requiring them to become Jewish proselytes.

Linguistic Insights

The word "trance" in the King James Version is translated from the Greek word ekstasis (ἔκστασις), from which we derive the English word "ecstasy." In this biblical context, it refers to a state of spiritual rapture or altered consciousness where a person receives divine revelation. It signifies a profound spiritual experience that temporarily removes one from ordinary sensory perception, allowing for direct communication from God's will and purpose.

Related Scriptures

This verse dramatically sets the stage for the full vision described in Acts 10:11-16, where Peter is commanded to "kill and eat" previously forbidden animals. This vision directly parallels the earlier vision of Cornelius, the Roman centurion, who was simultaneously instructed by an angel to send for Peter. The convergence of these two divine interventions underscores God's intentionality in uniting Jew and Gentile in Christ, a theme beautifully articulated by Paul in Ephesians 2:14-16, speaking of Christ breaking down the wall of hostility.

Practical Application

Acts 10:10 reminds us that God often prepares us for significant spiritual breakthroughs through ordinary, even mundane, circumstances. We should remain attentive and open to divine interruptions in our daily lives, as God can use our physical needs or routine activities to reveal His deeper purposes. This verse encourages us to be receptive to new understandings of God's will, especially when they challenge our comfort zones or long-held traditions, much like Peter's vision challenged his understanding of dietary laws and social distinctions. God's plan is often larger than our immediate perspective.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Acts 22:17

    And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance;

  • Ezekiel 40:2

    In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which [was] as the frame of a city on the south.

  • Numbers 24:4

    He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:

  • Matthew 4:2

    And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

  • Ezekiel 8:1

    ΒΆ And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, [as] I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me.

  • Ezekiel 8:3

    And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where [was] the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.

  • Numbers 24:16

    He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:
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